S'pore PR charged over promoting commercial sex with a minor overseas

By Shaffiq Idris Alkhatib
​The Straits Times
Feb 15, 2017

A Singapore permanent resident (PR) was charged in court on Wednesday (Feb 15) with two counts of distributing information intended to promote commercial sex with a minor below 18 years old outside Singapore.

German national Michael Frank Hartung, 45, who is a partner at business development company Erasig, is also accused of two counts each of being possession of obscene videos and films without valid certificates.

Hartung is accused of distributing the commercial sex information to two Singaporeans, known only as Jackson Fong and Michael, at a Raffles City shopping centre cafe at 3.30pm on Sept 26, 2015.

He allegedly committed the same offence at a Mackenzie Road pub, near Little India at 7.45pm on April 15, last year (2016).

This time, he allegedly distributed the information to two Singapore PRs known only as Frank and Paul.

Four months later, he was allegedly found to be in possession of 245 obscene films in his home on the eighth storey of Simei Green condominium at Simei Street 4.

They were found in digital video compact discs and files.

Hartung, who is married to a Singapore PR, was also allegedly found to be in possession of eight films that did not have valid certificates in his home that day.

He is out on $15,000 bail and is represented by lawyer Raphael Louis.

The pre-trial conference will be on Feb 28.

If convicted of distributing information to promote commercial sex with a minor overseas, Hartung can be jailed up to 10 years and fined for each charge.